Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-02-25
PRIZE BOXES FOR C0UNTRYMEN.
What They Get For Trying to Buy Coun-
terfeit Money.

fence he was reading his paper
not reading the news, but tho o',.
tisements. Away down in tho
Of his soul John had long chsl..as
hope that some day he would tc D,l
to higher sphere of usefulue-,
Perhaps some one would advor
a nice. healthy country boy to
President OF the United States,
elevated railroad. or something
kind. John did not find such III q,
advertisement, but he did find this
Attention 5000 for $500! Fortune
made every day. Address S. S. O.. L
o. Box $500, N. Y"
Hodge was astonished and dole
A feeling OF unspeakable sati-!
spread over him as he remember
he had twice 5000 In the sayings
He jumped down off the rail
rushed into the house. and addr,
IS. 5. O." Two days later he rece
n letter which told him that perso.
interview would be necessary. A tim
and place were appointed.
John was there. He met q charmi'
gentleman with benevolent, not to
patriarchal. air. The gentleman t.
John to his ONCE and laid pile
crisp, brand-new bank notes before
him.
"Do you see anything tho matter
with those?" asked the gentleman.
mo" said John; I'D like to have as
many Of them as could carry"
80 you shall. But first come VI
NO."
Then the gentleman took John &c.
the street to bank. He shc~.
bills to the Paying Teller and =
is there anything the Ma.
those?"
NO" said the Teller. after
examining them. The GO
thanked tho Paying Teller an
John back TO his Office.
Now" said he. those bills are coli
torfeits. l know. for 1 made them.
"Jec-rickety exclaimed John.
"You can have 5000 Of them for s2oG,
or 81, 500 for s400."
John hesitated. The bait was We.
tempting. Finally he said:
We'll. guess Ill begin on 5000"
II haven't that much OH hand nov
I'll have to make them. You can
me the $500, and I'll give you my n.-5
for thirty days and when you rec
the goods you can send me back tn
note"
That's square dealing" snid John.
He paid the 5000, and received the not,
Of Thomas Samuels.
"Ill send you tho goods by Adam
Express" said Mr.. Samuels.
John departed fully satisfied. and wen.
back to Bogopolis with a light heart
and fat pocketbook. Several days
later he received package carefully
sealed. 1t was heavy. John wondered
q little At its weight, but hastened TO his
room to open it. With trembling fin
gers he tore open the wrapping, and
found within box. He opened the box
and found in that-not money, BIZ.
sawdust.
John nearly tainted. His money hna
been stolen. But by whomp The eX-
press agent, OF course. No ono else
could have taken the III ,ney out anu
rescaled the package so neatly.
John wrote the following letter to the
express company:
Adams Express Company New York ~
the 29th OF december l had ca
deposited in Branch Office GS4 Broadw;if
New York amount was six hundrc
dollars packed in small wood boz
marked John Hodge Bogopolis Nj. sam
box cam to hand and not u cent Of money
In the box. Ihave the Receipt Received
Of c. Please investigate and let me
hear from you soon tho party gave mo
his name L. Samucls, l was in Mem
York at the time and saw him. Yours
truly JOHN HODGE.
p. S. II loos that money l will pub
lish the circumstanc In the different New
York papers.
The express company put It's dctec-
tlves to work on the case, and very soon
the agent Ia charge OF the office at which
the box was sent. wrote a full account OF
tho matter to Superintendent William
Hoey.
He concluded his letter by saving:
IL finally learned enough to convinco
mo That he had gone to New York
buy some green goods which cot
not be distinguished from the genuii.
article. and while there the sharpers In,
held him up for the 5000. same a.
hundreds Of other poor dupes have bee
taken In. and then they thought
express company had done 1t. 1t Is
same Did story. with which you an
are so familiar. but of which 1t is SO har
to convince the greenies."
Does this often happen?" an Officer
ofthe company was asked.
Every day" was the answer. "The
Is class OF countrymen who visit y
iork-not less than 20 a day-for
purpose OF purchasing counter
money. and the old game Is invaria
played upon them.
After these dupes have received &
sawdust. they write the express con.
psny such letters as have shown yor
| can give you enough OF them to ma
a book. IN. Y. Times.